Maine Gay Marriage Legalized

On Wednesday, May 6th, Maine Governor John Baldacci signed into law a bill legalizing gay marriage in the state. The move makes Maine the fifth state to allow gay marriage.

From the official press release:

Governor John E. Baldacci today signed into law LD 1020, An Act to End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom.

“I have followed closely the debate on this issue. I have listened to both sides, as they have presented their arguments during the public hearing and on the floor of the Maine Senate and the House of Representatives. I have read many of the notes and letters sent to my office, and I have weighed my decision carefully,” Governor Baldacci said. “I did not come to this decision lightly or in haste.”

“I appreciate the tone brought to this debate by both sides of the issue,” Governor Baldacci said. “This is an emotional issue that touches deeply many of our most important ideals and traditions. There are good, earnest and honest people on both sides of the question.”

“In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions,” Governor Baldacci said. “I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage.”

“Article I in the Maine Constitution states that ‘no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor be denied the equal protection of the laws, nor be denied the enjoyment of that person’s civil rights or be discriminated against.'”

“This new law does not force any religion to recognize a marriage that falls outside of its beliefs. It does not require the church to perform any ceremony with which it disagrees. Instead, it reaffirms the separation of Church and State,” Governor Baldacci said.

“It guarantees that Maine citizens will be treated equally under Maine’s civil marriage laws, and that is the responsibility of government.”

“Even as I sign this important legislation into law, I recognize that this may not be the final word,” Governor Baldacci said. “Just as the Maine Constitution demands that all people are treated equally under the law, it also guarantees that the ultimate political power in the State belongs to the people.”

“While the good and just people of Maine may determine this issue, my responsibility is to uphold the Constitution and do, as best as possible, what is right. I believe that signing this legislation is the right thing to do,” Governor Baldacci said.

4 thoughts on “Maine Gay Marriage Legalized”

Some with more knowledge of the Consitution than I will either have to affirm or deny this, but isn’t there an article that forbids goverment involvement in contracts between two individuals?
If so, that would mean the goverment can make no marriage legal or illegal because marriage is a contract.
If I ever marry it will be to the opposite sex and performed by clergy and the union will be blessed by God. If your gay then your on your own with God in this pursuit.
However I do believe that states have the right to define marriage and can do so making a marriage between same sex void as far as inheritance rights and tax benefits.

One thing is for sure – there’s nothing, whatsoever, in the constitution that allows the federal government to determine who can or cannot be married. Personally, I’d like to see government out of that institution altogether, but constitutionally, this should be handled by people on a state-by-state basis.

Why do these liberal judges and governors keep trying to destroy traditional marriage with all of these homosexual marriage plans? We should take the decision away from corrupt leaders and give the decision back to the people by a vote. In California even with the population twice voting to define marriage as only between a man and a woman, corrupt supreme court justices in California over-ruled the people’s vote. Homosexuals have been shoveling money at California state government to redefine marriage in their favor and seek to take away the voting rights of the people. These actions by homosexual activists are similar to the over-reaching powers and regulations that our federal government has been imposing on the states and local governments.

Dave: The interesting thing is that Maine gay marriage is the first one not spurred on by a court “requirement.” This one was passed by Maine legislators and signed by the Maine governor – going through the same process of public debate that any law would go through in that state. And, from what I know of, it has pretty widespread support in Maine.

The important point here is that this is a state-by-state issue. And, if the people of Maine want this to hold, then it should hold. Just like Montana’s new gun laws. It’s not for people or legislators in Maine to decide what people in Montana should be doing, and vice versa.

You may not like it when people in another state do something, but then it’s your decision if you want to spend time and energy to peacefully convince people in your own state to do otherwise.